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"Mia." Jagger says, and I look to him, "Do you think that we'll be able to talk?"
I shrug, "Sure," I say as I come to stand beside him and Hudson. I wonder what he wants to talk about, if he even mentions Sarah or Allie, I'm going to walk away.
"Outside?" Hudson barks and I jump. "Sorry." He whispers as he looks down at me, his hand grazing my back.
Goosebumps break out on my skin, and I'm transported back to twenty months ago. The magnetic feeling I had is back, I'm drawn to him, and I shouldn't be, I need to get my head together, Hudson Brady is someone I can't be attracted to.
"Uh, yeah, give me a minute, I just want to get a drink," I tell them while grabbing a hold of Lacey's hand and pulling her with me into the ballroom. "Shit Lace, what am I meant to do?"
"Oh, Mia, you still like him, don't you?" She puts her arm around my shoulder as we make our way through the ballroom and towards the kitchen.
"Like?" I scoff, "It's so much more than that. That night we spent together, it's all I ever think about. It's pathetic I know, but Lace, he's all I have ever wanted." Now, I can't have him.
"Damn, Mia," Lacey exclaims, "You never said you loved him."
I come to a stop as we walk through the kitchen doors. Turning to face her. I raise my hands, "Whoa, who mentioned anything about love?"
She has this annoying look on her face, the one that tells me she knows more than I do. I roll my eyes and pull my phone out of the pocket I have hidden in my dress. I quickly send Sarah a text.
Jagger wants to speak to me, what if he wants to talk about you and Allie? Do I talk to him, or do I ignore him?
She doesn't take long to message me back.
You can speak to him, I have nothing to hide. Maybe you can get him to understand that he's hurting his daughter with his decision. Let me know how it goes, try not to kill him. Love you Mia, thank you for being here for me. I don't know what I'd have done without you.
God, she's trying to make me cry! Taking a deep breath, I put my cell back into my pocket and spy the bottles of champagne and a few glasses. Shrugging, I pick the glasses up, Lacey grabs the bottle, and we make our way out into the back yard, it's freaking huge. I spot Hudson and Jagger in mid discussion, so I make my way over to the patio set Mom has out here. Taking a seat I place the glasses on the table.
"Hey, relax okay, if things get heated, just walk away. You owe neither of them anything." Lacey says as she reaches out and touches my hand.
"I know, I just want him to realize what he's actually missing out on not being around Allie. He's hurt Sarah so much by just being an asshole. I don't want to make things worse for them, I know how mad I am at him and I'm trying my hardest to be calm and talk to him like a normal person, but all I keep seeing is Allie in my head. I hate it, Lace. I hate him." My voice cracks and a tear slowly falls down my face as I peer over at him and Hudson, they're still talking, Jagger has a smile on his face. "My best friend is struggling, and he's here having the fucking time of his life. It makes me sick."
She squeezes my hand, "Deep breath, Mia. You've got this. You're a fucking amazing friend, you'd go to hell and back for us, and that's why we love you. Your loyalty is outstanding."
I shrug, I'd do what they'd do for me. It's what you do for those who you love.
"Thank you Mia," Jagger says softly as he and Hudson come and sit down beside us, of course Hudson takes the seat beside me.
"Hudson, Jagger, this is Lacey, Lacey, meet Hudson and Jagger." I introduce them, and Lacey doesn't shake either of their hands. Instead, she just gives them a soft wave. "You wanted to talk?" I get straight to the point.
He nods, "Yes, I received an email today, and it knocked me for six..." He begins, his hands flat against the table.
I scoff, "Why, because you thought she'd have gotten rid of it?"
His eyes widen before quickly darkening. His nostrils flare, and his hands ball up into a fist. "No, God, no. What the fuck? Mia, this email is the first I ever knew about having a daughter."
I gasp, what? There's no way. I glance at Lacey. She looks as shocked as I feel.
"Mia, please, tell me what the fuck is going on," Jagger begs me.
"From the beginning, please. " Hudson asks, his hand reaching over and touching my leg, I should push it away, but I don't. Instead, I hold onto it as if it's my lifeline. He entwines our fingers together, and a sense of calm settles over me. Shit, I am so screwed.
"Okay, where do I start?" I don't know how much he knows.
"You both left without a word." Hudson's deep voice sends shivers down my back, "Why?"
"It wasn't planned. Sarah and I went out that night. We wanted to let off steam. We were both leaving Oakland, and neither of us could wait. The further away we got the better." I tell them honestly, and Hudson's hand tightens around mine. "We went out and we wanted to have fun. We did, and you and Jagger, you weren't expected." I tell him, needing him to understand that it wasn't a plan we had come up with. It just happened.
"Jagger, you were with Carina that night. Sarah thought you two had gotten back together, but at the end of the night when you had asked her to go home with you, she did because she trusted you." I shake my head, "That was her very first mistake."
